Marino, Dan (1961-…), was one of the greatest quarterbacks in football history. He was especially known for his accurate passing. Marino was also noted for his ability to make quick decisions and deliver the ball quickly to receivers, as well as his skill at “reading” defenses for weaknesses. Marino set career records in the National Football League (NFL) for passing yards (61,361), touchdowns (420), passing attempts (8,358), and pass completions (4,967). Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers later broke Marino’s records for touchdowns, attempts, completions, and passing yards. In the 1984-1985 season, Marino set a single-season NFL record with 5,084 yards passing. Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints broke the record in 2011.
Daniel Constantine Marino, Jr., was born in Pittsburgh, on Sept. 15, 1961. He played at the University of Pittsburgh, graduating in 1983. Marino was drafted by the Miami Dolphins of the NFL in 1983, the 27th player and 6th quarterback taken. He became the Dolphins’s starting quarterback in the sixth game of his rookie season. Marino was selected the NFL’s Most Valuable Player for the 1984 season. Marino retired in 2000 after playing 17 seasons in the NFL. He then became a television football analyst. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005. Marino wrote an autobiography, Dan Marino: My Life in Football (2005).
